Goodbye, August. Thank you for the Tedeschi Trucks show. Thank you for the Joan Osborne show. Thank you for the Alive at Fives. Thank you for the music cruises on Casco Bay. Thank you for the street musicians lining the First Friday Art Walk. Thank you for the Picnic Music and Arts Festival.
And August, one last thing — thank you for these three picks to choose from this weekend. From Portland to Kennebunk and back, the stages are full of acoustic guitars, pianos and one lone cello.
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September, you’ve got a tough act to follow.
I’ll say one good thing about MTV: I sure did like a lot of those “Unplugged” shows. There’s something about a stripped-down acoustic sound that really spins my spurs. That said, a show you might enjoy is the Living Room Series: Portland Rockers go Acoustic at the recently opened Hive in Kennebunk. The Hive is a “swarming of the arts” in downtown Kennebunk, and it’s a spot where you’ll find lots of live music performances and workshops. Welcome to the scene, Hive! This “unplugged” show will feature acoustic sets from Dave Gutter (Paranoid Social Club, Rustic Overtones), Zach Jones (As Fast As) and Dean Ford (The Goodnight Process).
The Living Room Series: Portland Rockers go Acoustic with Dave Gutter, Zach Jones and Dean Ford. 8 p.m. Saturday. The Hive, 84 Main St., Kennebunk. $8. Ages 21 and older. thehivekennebunk.com
Nashville based folk/Americana singer-songwriter Craig Bickhardt headlines at Mayo Street Arts. Bickhardt’s known as much for his songwriting skills as he is for his musicianship: he co-wrote The Judd’s numero uno hits “I Know Where I’m Going” and “Turn it Loose.” His first solo album came out 10 years ago. Three others followed, including last year’s retrospective CD “No Road Back.”
Head to craigbickhardt.com and hear his terrific voice on the many clips at the “listen to CDs” tab. My favorite Bickhardt fun fact is that his old band, Wire and Wood, once opened for Bruce Springsteen. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal that he’s coming here and playing at such an intimate space like Mayo Street.
But wait, there’s more! You can also enjoy music in the round from Maine songwriters Brad Strause, Phil Daligan and Ronda Dale. Sweet.
Craig Bickhardt and Maine Songwriters in the Round. 8 p.m. Friday. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. $15; mayostreetarts.org
So there I was, happy as a clam at the breathtaking Mary Fahl show a couple of weeks ago at One Longfellow Square. I had no idea who the opener was, but I’m always open to being exposed to something new and terrific.
Such was the case with Gregory Douglass from Burlington, Vt. He traded between piano and guitar, and featured a voice that brought to mind the likes of Andrew Bird with a little Rufus Wainwright mixed in. He had me at “hello,” and I was quite struck by his talent. Douglass played several songs from his latest CD, “Lucid.” I left with the disc and the intel from Douglass that he’d be returning to Maine for a gig at Blue. He’ll be bringing cellist Monique Citro, who is all over “Lucid,” and I am quite certain this will be a bold and engaging performance.
Gregory Douglass. 8 p.m. Saturday. Blue, 650A Congress St., Portland. $5 to $10 suggested donation; portcityblue.com
Staff Writer Aimsel Ponti can be contacted at 791-6455 or at:
aponti@pressherald.com
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